Sunshine and smiles were the order of the day when Santa dropped in to see the kids of the Central Coast Four Wheel drive club this weekend.

The annual club Christmas Party was a resounding success, with the sun shining all day on the many activities that the club volunteers provided for the kids. Starting with a flying fox in the morning, followed by craft activities, fairy floss and icy cold slushies. There was a short break for a sausage sizzle lunch, before Santa arrived in nothing less than a firetruck with sirens blaring. The kids had all been very good this year as Santa and his trusty elves handed out a beautiful and individual present to every child.

Then it was time for a free for all water fight – from which no one escaped unscathed. A gigantic firetruck powered waterslide followed – providing soapy thrills and spills for the young and the young at heart alike.

Drinks and nibbles on the lawn were provided as the afternoon sun began to wane. followed by a beautiful buffet meal with salads and meats of many kinds. Dessert of cake, pavlova and cheesecake topped off a perfect day.

This was another fantastic effort by our Social Co-Ordinator, Jo Kelly and her team of willing helpers. Co-ordinating such a large event in the bush without the benefits of electricity and kitchens is no small feat!

The ladies who attended our recent Ladies Day Out had a great time, travelling some interesting and technical tracks in perfect Spring Weather.   After meeting up at Tuggerah, the convoy proceeded through Jilliby and onto The Pines Picnic area for morning tea.  They then travelled west, enjoying some lookouts along the way, before finishing the trip with a lunch at the iconic Wollombi Pub.   The participants all wore an item of pink clothing and made a donation to the National Breast Cancer Foundation.  A total of $230 was raised by the 11 participants.

Those of us who travelled to Nundle last weekend had a great weekend.  Despite gloomy weather forecasts, we had brilliant sunshine except for  a small thunderstorm late in the day.   The group travelled via Scone and Timor on Saturday morning, enjoying a leisurely look around the picturesque and historic town of Nundle before setting up camp at Ponderosa Forest Park, a great spot amidst towering pines and deciduous trees.

There were some good tracks to keep us all entertained during the afternoon and evidence of  a recent ferocious windstorm was everywhere with trees down over many tracks, causing the trip leader to rethink on the go!

A good campfire kept the cool evening at bay and on Sunday we packed up early and     drove towards Barry Station winding our way through the Barnard River Valley and crossing over twenty creeks before eventually arriving at Ellerston.   A loop through the western end of the Barringtons followed, along Tugalow and Thunderbolts trails, before we descended through the Dingo Gate, Moonan Flat and home.

In 2016, the Central Coast 4 Wheel Drive Club celebrates forty years of bringing together four-wheel driving, touring and camping enthusiasts from all over the Central Coast.
Our club was founded in 1976 by a group of local four-wheel driving fans who wanted to saviour the joys of four-wheel driving, whilst caring for the environment. Thus the club’s motto “Respecting the Great Outdoors” was born.
Over the years the club has run over 1000 trips – from grand outback tours and Victorian High country journeys, to weekends and day trips closer to home.
Held in a picturesque valley at Riverwood Downs near Dungog, our club 40th Anniversary celebration on was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the comradeship, community spirit and common interests that we all share.
A barbecue and bush dance was the focus of the weekend, with a colonial theme. Many of our members went to great lengths to dress in period costume, and it was also wonderful to see some of our longest standing members attending. Our anniversary cake was cut by our newest and oldest members present.